To ensure the highest level of safety and working convenience at construction sites, scaffolding is an essential requirement that must be manufactured with the most reliable material. Due to tight deadlines during a construction job, there is a fundamental need for a long term investment in scaffolds, since plenty of time is already invested in erecting and removing them. Thus, it is the primary responsibility of a company to select the correct scaffold material, according to the site requirements and labor needs.
In earlier times, wood was the most common option for a scaffolding material. Although, wood scaffolding has its own merits but upgrading the construction techniques to keep up with the stiff deadlines, created a room for another scaffolding alloy, aluminium.
Just like any other material, Aluminum scaffolding also has several pros as well as cons. Among the benefits, is a much-known feature of aluminium scaffolding that makes erecting the structure seem very professional! On the other hand, aluminium as an alloy is very light in weight, and due to this property, it is also very popular in the aeronautical industry. This quality also makes the assembling part of scaffolding much less laborious for an ordinary worker.
So, if you are searching for a manoeuvrable and light choice of scaffolding material at reasonable scaffolding rental, then aluminium is definitely the best amongst the rest. Because of its lightweight and smooth handling, it is easy to dismantle and_ comparatively, costs very less time.
Since it can be handled much more efficiently by the crew, aluminium scaffolding requires a reduced labour-hire and vehicle fuel – saving you some decent cost.
However, nothing in this world comes perfect, same goes for aluminium scaffolding, which has its demerits… In this article, we have compiled an honest list of the pros and cons of aluminium scaffolding that will assist you greatly in making the correct choice for your upcoming project.
Advantages:
- Superior Strength
As mentioned in the introduction, aluminium has one of the best reliability-strength ratios among all other alloys. This not only makes aluminium scaffolding much lighter in handling but also provides superior durability as a result of its alloy properties. It is soft at the same time as rigid as anyone could ever imagine.
From transportation to assembly and further dismantling after the completion of work, aluminium provides all major site benefits. Also, aluminium scaffolding is capable of bearing decent amounts of load without any additional support or care.
- Corrosion Resistivity
Aluminium is one of the few metals that are considered on priority in the aviation industry as well as outdoor applications, all thanks to its natural corrosion resistivity. At places, where even a top-quality stainless steel structure fails to meet the expectations, aluminium scaffolding stands-out marvellously.
Hence, it can lie exposed to harsh weather, vagaries of atmosphere and wrath of rain without any noticeable impact. The secret to such strength and resistivity is its natural oxide film coating, which makes it corrosion proof and sets high standards before all the other scaffolding competitors.
- Incredible Maneuverability
Due to its lightweight and flexibility, that’s absolutely true for aluminium scaffolding. Manoeuvrability is something that every site worker wishes for; because this feature not only eases his handling stress but also saves tremendous energy. Mostly, workers use rope or chains to swing and suspend scaffolds or provide load safety. If the material they are using is steel, then suspending it with thin ropes or chains can invite a certain calamity. To overcome this concern, platforms with lighter weight and equal strength are preferred; this makes aluminium scaffolding an ultimate choice.
Aluminium scaffolding increases the profitability ratio while increasing the working pace of many folds. However, people are often found debating over the load supporting capacity of aluminium scaffolds. To their knowledge, aluminium offers as much rigidity as any other heavy alloy such as ferrous or steel.
They Can Be Made of Recycled Materials
If you want to conduct eco-friendly operations and look forward to a greener future of your company, then aluminium scaffolding is the way to go. Due to its flexibility, aluminium alloy can be easily recycled to make into scaffolds – without having to cut down many trees and harming the ecosystem.
Moreover, if someday you decide to upgrade to some other material or want old aluminium scaffolding to replace, then it can be easily recycled or sold to a recycling company. This makes aluminium scaffolds the best choice in reducing carbon footprints and create an example with your ecofriendly business.
Disadvantages:
- Height Issues & Restricted Loading Capacity
One major disadvantage of aluminium scaffolding derives from its lightweight feature. Due to its extra lightweight, aluminium can have staging issues for extra heights because of reduced weight stability. With this in consideration, Aluminum scaffolding is best when it comes to low height projects but not recommended when the height exceeds a certain limit. Also, you must be extra-cautious while loading the aluminium scaffold, because extra weight can cause the scaffolding to bend abruptly at any spot, which can be dangerous.
However, if you persist with aluminium scaffoldings for sites having more than moderate heights, it is better to consult an expert engineer to guide you the best.
- A Comparatively Expensive Investment
Yes, you heard it right. Just when aluminium scaffolding offers abundant benefits, it is an expensive investment at the same time. Aluminium scaffolds can roughly cost you $130 per meter, which is a bit on the higher side when compared with other alloys. At the same rate, you can buy a double quantity of steel scaffolding from any recognized supplier.
Also, aluminium scaffolding is not often seen as cost-effective as other materials. The main reason for this is that it cannot be used repeatedly for a longer period of time.
And, due to its high market cost, there is a good chance of pilferage – increasing your overall security expense.
Conclusion:
Aluminium is one of the most flexible, lightweight and durable alloys. Due to these key features, it makes reliable scaffolding for moderately high sites. The manoeuvrability features add much to the convenience of your workers and reduce their workload; hence, enabling them to accomplish the tasks at a tremendous pace.
Although aluminium scaffolding can be a bit expensive investment, for all the extraordinary benefits that you gain against this price, it indeed makes a worthy choice.
